Native Nod
This cannot exist
The Numero Group
February 26, 2024
Web Exclusive
Like some of you reading this I guess, I follow The Numero Group on Bandcamp and one day last year when I saw an update from them and that they were releasing it, I totally flipped it. Consisting of Ted Leo's younger brothers Chris and Danny Leo, along with Justin Simon and Dave Lerner, and only teenagers when they were active, Native Nod were a short-lived but brilliant and influential band in the early 90s from the northern New Jersey he put out just three 7-inchers on the venerable Gern Blandsten label and then broke up. Its members went on to participate in projects as diverse as The Van Pelt and The Lapse (both with Chris Leo) along with the experimental label Mesh-Key Records (founded by Simon). Playing this stuff for the first time in decades I wasn't sure how it would hold up but it was like 1993 all over again as they had a completely unique take on this sound, part Soulside and part Slint but really don't like it none and their own thing entirely. And there were children too.
On the one hand, this single LP almost complete discography (minus their track on The fear of smell comp, “Mr. President”) is a vinyl reissue of their discography CD, Today Adolescence, Tomorrow the World, since the late 90s. On the other hand, what also makes this an absolute must-buy for fans or anyone curious about the extremely fertile post-hardcore/emo DIY scene back then is the amazing 20-page booklet with notes from Jenn Pelly that comes with it. It's insanely good, actually, as it perfectly captures the feel of those heady moments. And the photos (all by the also-respected stage photographer Justine deMetrick of Intermission Magazine) are stunning, too. This is an essential track and a great summary of a short-lived, but great band. (www.numerogroup.com/products/this-cant-exist)
Author Rating: 8.5/10
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